Chapter 4: Home

'God, yesterday sucked... I almost had the chance...' She thought to herself as she recalled how her heart had raced due to the sudden noise. 'But it doesn't matter, today will be different, there's no way there will be someone here nine days in a row!' She thought as she reached the door. She opened it and saw a young woman with short hair standing against the railing without shoes. "What the hell are you doing!?" She asked as she angrily walked up to the railing and stood next to the woman.

"M-m-me!?" She asked as she looked at Erika.

"You see anyone else!?" She asked angrily.

"W-well..." She stuttered. "I don't think I should..." She mumbled.

"I can't hear you, speak up." Erika said.

"Eh!? W-well..." She spoke with a shaky voice as tears began to form in her eyes. "I was planning on..." She paused with uncertainty in her eyes.

"Let me guess, jumping, right?" Erika asked blandly.

"Huh?" Y-yeah..." She said in surprise. "How'd you know...?" She asked.

"Let's just call it a hunch." Erika said with a dead look in her eyes.

"R-right..." The girl spoke uncomfortably.

"Anyway, why?" Erika asked as she returned to her usual bland expression.

"Well... My home life isn't too great..." She spoke softly.

"How so?" Erika asked.

"I was... I was told not to say..." She said.

"How old are you?" Erika asked.

"Nineteen, why?" She responded.

"If you're that old, then you can make your own choices. Jumping, for example." She said. The girl thought for a moment.

"I... Suppose that's true..." She mumbled.

"So, you gonna tell me?" Erika asked. The girl froze for a moment.

"My parents never got along well..." The girl started. Erika nodded. "So, they got divorced. I wasn't allowed to choose who I got to stay with and was forced to stay with my mother." She continued.

"Is she bad?" Erika asked. The girl nodded.

"She lets her boyfriends influence her... The one she married is..." She paused as she shuddered. "He was never good." She stated with fear in her eyes. Erika tilted her head in curiosity as the girl spoke.

"In what ways?" She asked.

"They got together when I was eight... And every night... H-he'd... He and my mother, they'd..." She paused as tears began to choke her up. "Do things... Painful and gross things..." She continued as she began crying. A dark expression fell on Erika.

'Once more, the mood is gone...' She thought to herself as she put an arm around the girl and pulled her a little closer. "Yeah, I get it." She said. "They still do it?" She asked. The girl nodded as she hugged Erika with tears streaming down her face. After a while, the girl stopped crying. "My solution for you..." Erika spoke.

"Huh...?" The girl mumbled.

"Leave home." She said.

"Th-they'll just file a runaway report..." She said.

"You're an adult, you can't be classified as a runaway, when the cops find you, show your id and explain what's happening." Erika said. The girl nodded.

"I think I can do that..." She mumbled. "Thank you." She said, then got up. "Um... By the way, what's your name...?" She asked.

"Erika." She said as she stood up and looked off into the horizon. The girl nodded to herself.

"Thank you, Erika." She said, then took her leave. Erika sighed.

'I guess I can try tomorrow.' She thought. 'I probably should have told her that just running won't get rid of the emotional damage she has...' She thought as she left the roof. 'Well, whatever. What happens to her is none of my business.' She shrugged off the thought.